By his own admission, though, it was one of too few for the Blues as he failed to beat the count at Fratton Park.

A series of untimely injuries curtailed a promising start to life under Tony Pulis, which saw the home-grown full-back in action against Bolton, Ipswich and Blackburn.

It was a case of three strikes and out, however, as Birmingham was released by under-pressure player-boss Steve Claridge the following campaign, having failed to regain form after undergoing an operation on his broken leg.

There is no bitterness in Portsmouth-born man, though.

Birmingham said: ‘I made my debut at Bolton and came on after an hour against a very good side.

‘That season they made it to the FA Cup semi-finals and division one play-offs.

‘Eidur Gudjohnsen, Michael Johansen and Jussi Jaaskelainen all played for them.

‘I just remember walking into the Reebok Stadium and it being completely different to Fratton Park – to the point there was an Astroturf bit at the side where you could do your warm-up.

‘We lost 3-0 that day but wow it was a great experience.

‘After Bolton, though, I got left out next game against Tranmere.

‘But the gaffer came and saw me and told me I was travelling to Ipswich a few days later.

‘I just thought I would be sitting on the bench but when we were training the day before, Tony gave me the yellow bib and I thought: “Hold on, what’s going on here?”

‘I was in the starting XI and playing as a wing-back.

‘It’s hard work as a wing-back at the best of times but especially against an Ipswich side who were absolutely flying at the time.

‘I was playing directly up against Jason McAteer and Graeme Souness was their manager.

‘I grew up watching Jason playing for Ireland at the 1994 World Cup and there he was pulling my shirt, trying to trip me up and having a bit of banter.

‘It was all a bit surreal. One minute I was this kid playing an under-21s game at Fratton Park in the Youth Cup and the next minute the gaffer had pulled me over, given me a professional contract and told me I was in the first-team squad.’

But Birmingham, who put his breakthrough down to the coaching of Neil McNab, was rocked by injury as his promising Pompey career stalled and he was shown the door less than a year later.

‘It was in my contract that if I made another three appearances I would win a new deal but unfortunately I had to have my leg operated on,’ said Birmingham.

‘I came back but struggled with injury – I had shin splints, then problems with my ankles and it was just one thing after another.

‘I simply didn’t pick up the form I had shown the year before.

‘Claridge had just taken over and needed results fast, so chose to favour experience and part with me, which was his call.

‘My performances weren’t great, though, and he was truthful.

‘I suppose it was just one of those things but that’s football.’

Boxing, though, is the new focus for Birmingham.

And after a career that also saw him play for Bournemouth under Sean O’Driscoll and in non-league for Bognor with brother Michael before falling out of love for the game, the 34-year-old is happy to be getting a second chance to show his worth in the ring.

‘I boxed years and years ago as a schoolboy but I had to give it up for football,’ said Birmingham.

‘Dave Waterman approached me after setting up the Oakley Waterman foundation in memory of his son and told me he was putting on a charity boxing show – without hesitation I agreed.

‘I got bang into it and won my first fight so the coach asked if I wanted to do some more boxing.

‘The next thing he is asking me if I want to turn professional.

‘Having been a pro footballer I just thought wow, why not?

‘It’s all happened so fast – I just got my professional license through last month after meeting the boxing board in London.

‘I had an assessment spar at Peacock Gym, which is where Frank Bruno and lots of famous boxers learned their trade.

‘And I am now in my first week of training camp at Ballys Gym for my first professional fight in March which will be at either lightweight or super featherweight.

‘Danny O’Reilly, Gavin Jones and Paul Miles are just three people who have helped me out massively over the past year.’

Now a courier for Interlink Express, Birmingham has dismissed concerns he is entering into the noble art too late.

He said: ‘When I was younger I was a bit hot-headed but I am older and wiser now.

‘My sparring and training is going well and there is no reason why I can’t fight on for a number of years and see how I go.’

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